Dice cup

ABSTRACT

A plastic dice cup for use in various games of amusement includes a chamber which is cylindrical along the sides and concave at the bottom. The inner surface of the chamber is provided with a plurality of projections which are arranged in rows, each of which is staggered with respect to projections in adjacent rows.

United States Patent Lester 1 Felix. 29, 1972 54] DICE CUP DQ144111; 3/1946 Kastner ..273/145 B [72] lnventor: Victor Lester, P.O. Box 608, Sonora, FGREGN PATENTS 0 APPLICATIONS Calif. 95370 293,054 7/1916 Germany ..273/145B 1 F1led= Sent-24,1970 360,356 10/1922 Germany..... ....273/145A [2l] Appl. No.: 75,223

[52] US. Cl. ..273/l45 A ..A63t 9/04 [58] Field of Search ..273/145 A, 145 B, 145 R, 145 C, 273/145 CA, 145 D,145 13,144 R, 144 A, 144 B; D34/5 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,103,366 7/1914 Markens ..273/145 A 2,262,642 11/1941 Liberson ..273/l45 A Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Amok! W. Kramer Attorney-Lyon & Lyon [57] ABSTRACT A plastic dice cup for use in various games of amusement includes a chamber which is cylindrical along the sides and concave at the bottom. The inner surface: of the chamber is provided with a plurality of projections which are arranged in rows, each of which is staggered with respect to projections in adjacent rows.

12 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures Patented Feb. 29, 1972 3,545,533

INVENTOR W670? 5 5575? mos cur This invention relates to an amusement or game device and more particularly relates to a dice cup used in games to mix at random one or a plurality of dice.

When playing a game which includes the use of dice, a dice cup is used to thoroughly mix the dice so that when the dice are released from the cup the resulting position of the dice when they finally come to rest cannot be predetermined. However, with the various types of dice cups used heretofore certain players have been able to defeat the purpose of the dice cup. These players have accomplished this by bringing the dice to rest within the cup in a desired position and then sliding the dice from the cup to achieve a certain final position of the dice after they are released. Some players are so adept at accomplishing this that they can circumvent the purpose of the dice cup even when ridges are provided on the inner surface of the cup. This is done either by bringing the dice to rest between two ridges and then sliding the dice out of the cup, or, when the ridges are sufficiently close together, by bringing the dice to rest on two adjacent ridges and then sliding the dice out of the cup on the ridges. Even when the ridges or the space between the ridges do not provide a continuous path to the open end of the cup an unfair advantage is still gained by sliding the dice over and across the ridges and out of the cup. Also, when a flat surface or other surface within the cup is provided on which the dice can easily supported it is possible for a player to more easily manipulate the dice within the cup with his fingers.

Therefore, it is a primary object of this invention to provide an improved dice cup which prevent the sliding of the dice out of'the cup without tumbling so as to effect the final resting position of the dice on the playing surface.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved dice cup which will ensure against the manipulation or arrangement of the dice in the dice cup which in turn is used to effect a predetermined resting position of the dice after they are released from the cup.

In accordance with this and other objects, there is provided by this invention a dice cup which is formed of plastic and which includes a dice chamber having cylindrical sides and a concave bottom. Within the chamber along the inner surface of the sides and the bottom are provided a plurality of inwardly extending projections arranged at various levels in a se ries of continuous rows. Each projection is also so arranged within each row that it is staggered with respect to other neighboring projections in adjacent rows.

A further object of this invention is to provide a plastic dice cup of the type described which can be manufactured simply and economically.

Other and further objects and advantages of this invention will be made readily apparent from the following detailed specification and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the dice cup partially in cross section.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the dice cup.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the dice cup, generally designated 10, is formed of a resilient plastic material, such as a vinyl material having a shore D hardness of 85. The resilient nature of the material forming the dice cup allows the cup to be subjected to a relatively hard knock against the hard surface of a counter or table without damaging the dice cup 10. The dice cup 10 includes a generally cylindrical body 11 having a sidewall 12 and a bottom wall 13 which is integral with the sidewall 12. The bottom wall 13 is preferably hemispherical and forms an inner concave surface 14, with a smooth transition between this inner concave surface 14 and the inner surface 15 of the cylindrical sidewall 12. It should be noted that the body 11 includes at its lower end a cylindrical flange 16 which is an extension of the sidewall 12 and extends beyond the lower most extension of the outer surface 17 on the bottom wall 13 when the dice cup 10 is in an upright position to provide a convenient stand for the dice cup 11 The inner surfaces 14 and 15 of the bottom wall 13 and the sidewall 12, respectively, define a dice chamber 17 within which one or a plurality of dice, as indicated by the phantom lines 18, are maintained during the mixing of the dice. 0n the surfaces 14 and 15 are provided a plurality of projections or tabs 19 having an edge 19a which is curved or semicircular. The projections 19 extend inwardly into the chamber 17 and are inclined slightly upward towards the open end 20 of the chamber 17. The nature of the incline is such that it will allow for the release of a mold used in forming the plastic dice cup. The projections 19 are arranged in a spaced relationship within a series of rows 21 which extend around the inner sur faces 14 and 15. The rows 21 are located at various levels within the chamber 17 and are spaced sufficiently close together to prevent the flat faces of the dice from coming to rest on the space between the rows 21. In addition, each projection 19 is staggered with respect to the neighboring projection 19 in an adjacent row. The staggering of the projections 19 in the lower rows 21 extending around the hemispherical surface 14 is accomplished in the particular embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings by varying the size and the number of the projections 19 in these rows; the lower most row which is positioned approximately at the nadir of the surface 14 comprising a single projection 19. The staggering of the projections 19 along with the curved edge 19a of the projections l9 prevents the dice from being supported on two projections 19 in adjacent rows 21 and also prevents the dice from being slid on or across the rows 21 without tumbling.

At the upper end 22 of the body 11 there is provided an inwardly extending annular ridge 23 and an outwardly extending shoulder 24. The ridge 23 acts as a further barrier over which the dice must tumble when being released from the cup 10 and the upper most row 21 is spaced sufficiently close to the ridge 23 to prevent the dice from being supported or palmed in the space between the ridge 23 and the uppermost row of projections 19. The shoulder 24 also assists in. preventing palming or manipulation of the dice within the chamber 17.

When using the dice cup 10, one or a plurality of dice are placed in the chamber 17 with the hand of the player then covering the opening 20. The cup 10 is then shook to cause the dice within the chamber 17 to be mixed thoroughly as they strike the projections 19. After the dice are mixed, the hand of the player is removed from the opening 20 and the cup is sufficiently inverted to cause the dice to move from the chamber 17 out of the opening 20 onto a playing surface. As the dice move out from the chamber 17 they strike some of the projections 19 which causes the dice to tumble.

This invention provides a dice cup which prevents sliding of the dice from the dice cup without tumbling and further prevents unfair manipulation of the dice within the dice cup thereby preventing a player from pr-edetermining the final resting position of the dice after the dice have been ejected from the cup. In addition, the dice cup is simple and economical to manufacture.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but may invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A dice cup comprising:

a body having a sidewall and a bottom wall;

the inner surfaces of said sidewall. and said bottom wall defining a dice chamber;

said inner surface of said bottom wall being a curved concave surface; and

a plurality of staggered projections extending inwardly from the inner surfaces of said sidewall and said bottom wall into said dice chamber to promote the tumbling of dice in said dice chamber.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the inwardly extending edge of said projections is curved.

3. The device of claim 1. wherein said projections are arranged in a series of rows which extend around the inner surfacesof said sidewall and said bottom wall, with each of said nun-u A184 projections being staggered with respect to the neighboring projection in an adjacent row.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said rows are spaced sufficiently close together to prevent the flat surfaces of the dice within said dice chamber to rest on the space between said rows.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the number of and the size of the projections in one row on the inner surface of said bottom wall vary with respect to the number and the size of the projections in the other rows on the inner surface of said bottom wall to maintain the staggered relationship of said projections.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of said 7 sidewall is cylindrical and the transition between the inner sur- I faces of said sidewall and said bottom wall is smooth.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the curved inner surface of said bottom wall is hemispherical.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said body includes a downwardly extending cylindrical flange member which extends beyond the bottommost extension of the outer surface of said bottom wall to provide a convenient stand when the dice cup. is in an upright position.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said bottom wall is integral with said sidewall.

10. The device of claim I, wherein said body is provided at the open end of said dice chamber with an annular shoulder extending radially outward and a lip extending radially inward, said shoulder preventing manipulation of the dice in said dice chamber and said lip providing a barrier over which the dice must pass when being ejected from said dice chamber. 11. The device of claim 1, wherein said dice cup is formed out of a resilient plastic material.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said projections are inclined upwardly toward the open end of said chamber. 

1. A dice cup comprising: a body having a sidewall and a bottom wall; the inner surfaces of said sidewall and said bottom wall defining a dice chamber; said inner surface of said bottom wall being a curved concave surface; and a plurality of staggered projections extending inwardly from the inner surfaces of said sidewall and said bottom wall into said dice chamber to promote the tumbling of dice in said dice chamber.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the inwardly extending edge of said projections is curved.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein said projections are arranged in a series of rows which extend around the inner surfaces of said sidewall and said bottom wall, with each of said projections being staggered with respect to the neighboring projection in an adjacent row.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein said rows are spaced sufficiently close together to prevent the flat surfaces of the dice within said dice chamber to rest on the space between said rows.
 5. The device of claim 3, wherein the number of and the size of the projections in one row on the inner surface of said bottom wall vary with respect to the number and the size of the projections in the other rows on the inner surface of said bottom wall to maintain the staggered relationship of said projections.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of said sidewall is cylindrical and the transition between the inner surfaces of said sidewall and said bottom wall is smooth.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the curved inner surface of said bottom wall is hemispherical.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein said body includes a downwardly extending cylindrical flange member which extends beyond the bottommost extension of the outer surface of said bottom wall to provide a convenient stand when the dice cup is in an upright position.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein said bottom wall is integral with said sidewall.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein said body is provided at the open end of said dice chamber with an annular shoulder extending radially outward and a lip extending radially inward, said shoulder preventing manipulation of the dice in said dice chamber and said lip providing a barrier over which the dice must pass when being ejected from said dice chamber.
 11. The device of claim 1, wherein said dice cup is formed out of a resilient plastic material.
 12. The device of claim 1, wherein said projections are inclined upwardly toward the open end of said chamber. 